NATIONAL VIDEO

Atlanta man ID’d as victim of Sunday drowning at Lanier

A 33-year-old man who drowned Sunday afternoon in Lake Lanier was identified Monday morning as Lindy James Murdock of Bass Street in Atlanta.

Murdock, who was previously identified by authorities as a Lawrenceville man, drowned near the Two Mile Island chain in Forsyth County.

“He was on a float, had come off the float and went down,” said Sgt. Mike Burgamy, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Lake Lanier supervisor.

Hall County divers from the fire department’s marine rescue team, which was already working in the area, recovered the body. Forsyth County emergency responders also arrived at the scene off Ga. 369 in northeastern Forsyth County after receiving a call at about 3:32 p.m.

The incident happened in the Athens Park Road area, according to Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Karleen Chalker.

Murdock was pronounced dead at 4:32 p.m., Burgamy said.

The man “was just out with friends, swimming and enjoying the day,” Burgamy said. “It doesn’t appear that foul play was involved.”

Though it does appear to be accidental, the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Section is still investigating the drowning.

Several people were on the float with Murdock, Burgamy said.

According to Forsyth County deputies at the scene, the cove where the man was located is about 40 feet deep in certain locations. The man was on a float that measured 8 feet by 10 feet.